Tuberculosis: migrants’ experience and biomedical approaches in Seine-Saint-Denis, France

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore tuberculosis, a disease that is simultaneously biological and social, through an anthropological study conducted at Avicenne Hospital, located in the French Department of Seine-Saint-Denis. Design/methodology/approach Using the ethnographic method, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with migrants affected by the disease and with the biomedical team caring for them, to analyse how patients’ life experiences, rooted in their lived reality, intersect with biomedical and microbiological knowledge concerning the living. Findings Based on 46 semi-structured interviews with migrant patients, clinicians, microbiologists and outreach workers, the study reveals a deep epistemic gap in the understanding of tuberculosis aetiology. While most patients believe they contracted the disease in France, where it first manifested, biomedical professionals mainly hypothesise a latent infection acquired in the country of origin and reactivated after arrival. These divergent narratives produce distinct “regimes of truth” and hinder shared understanding. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first multidisciplinary study in France combining medical anthropology, microbiology and clinical medicine to explore tuberculosis. By analysing the divergent understandings of illness and disease, the study aims to improve communication and, ultimately, the quality of care.